The Samar
Provincial Library Building houses several government offices.

administrative machinery 2...

2.8 Office of the
Provincial General Services

2.8.1 Functions and
Responsibilities

(1) Formulates measures
for the consideration of the Sanggunian and provides technical assistance and
support to the Governor in carrying out measures to ensure the delivery of basic
services and provision of adequate facilities pursuant to Section 15 of the
Local Government Code of 1991 and which require general services expertise and
technical support services;

(2) Develop plans and
strategies and upon approval thereof by the Governor, implements the same,
particularly those which have to do with the general services supportive of the
welfare of the inhabitants which the Governor is empowered to provide for the
under code;

(3) Takes custody of and
be accountable for all the properties, real of personal owned by the local
government unit and those granted to it in the form of donation, reparation,
assistance and counterpart of joint projects;

(4) With the approval of
the Governor, as the case maybe, assigns building or land space to local
officials or other public officials, who by law, are entitled to such place;

(5) Recommends to the
Governor reasonable rental rates for local government properties, whether real
or personal, which will be leased to public or private entities by the local
government;

(6) Recommends to the
Governor reasonable rental rates of private properties which maybe leased for
the official use of the local government unit;

(7) Maintains and
supervises janitorial security, landscaping and other related services in all
local government public buildings and other real property, whether owned or
leased by the local government unit;

(8) Collates and
disseminates information regarding prices, shipping and other costs of supplies
and other items commonly used by the local government unit;

(9) Performs archival and
record management with respect to records of offices and departments of the
local government unit;

(10) Performs all other
functions pertaining to supply and properly management and enforces policies on
records operation, maintenance and disposal;

(11) Be in the frontline
of general services related activities, such as the possible or imminent
destruction or damage to records, supplies, properties and structures, the
orderly and sanitary cleaning up of waste materials or debris, particularly
during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters and calamities;
and

(12) Recommend to the
Sanggunian and advises the governor on all matters relative to the general
services; and exercise such other powers and performs such other duties and
functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.

2.9 Provincial Engineering Office

2.9.1 Function

The Provincial Engineering
Office is responsible for planning, designing, programming, construction and
maintenance of provincial infrastructure projects including roads, bridges,
water supply, buildings and other infrastructure, which are within the
jurisdiction of the province. It extends technical assistance and advice to
municipalities and other offices concerned with regard to planning and construction of public improvements.

The office is
also in-charge of conducting engineering investigation and field surveys needed
for planning, designing and construction of public infrastructure. In addition,
it maintains all equipment and motor vehicles in good operating conditions, and
prepares reports on the accomplishment and other pertinent data as a requirement
for the participation of the province in special projects.

2.10 Provincial
Environment and Natural Resources Management Office

The Provincial Environment
and Natural Resources Management Office is entrusted with the responsibility of
assisting the Governor in the maintenance of the environment and natural
resources; formulate measures for consideration of the Sanggunian and provide
technical assistance and support in carrying out said measures; ensure the
delivery of basic services and provision of adequate facilities relative to
environment and natural resources services. It develop plans and strategies and
upon approval thereof by the Governor, implement the same, particularly those
which have to do with environment and natural resources programs and projects;
be in the frontline in the delivery of services particularly in the renewal and
rehabilitation of the environment during and in the aftermath of man made and
natural calamities and disasters.

Likewise, it
recommends to the Sanggunian and advice the Governor on all matters relative to
the protection, conservation, maximum utilization and application of appropriate
technology and other matters related to environment and natural resources. It
also exercises such other powers and performs other duties and functions as
maybe prescribed by law or ordinance.

2.11 Provincial Social
Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO)

The Provincial Social
Welfare and Development Office and the Provincial Population Office started
working as one agency for almost two (2) years already. The fusion of the two
offices was seen as an effective tool in delivering the basic social services to
the less fortunate population of the province, and mostly the disadvantaged
families who are living in the 5th and 6th class
municipalities comprising 90% of these areas.

With the
merger of the two offices, the following are the functions, duties and
responsibilities of the office:

(1) Formulation and
development of plans and strategies on social welfare and population related
programs and projects and their implementation upon approval thereof by the
Governor;

(2) Identify the basic
needs of the needy, the disadvantaged and the impoverished and the development
and implementation of appropriate resources to alleviate their problems and
improve their living conditions;

(3) Frontline provisions
of service delivery, particularly those concerning immediate relief and
assistance before, during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disaster;

(4) Provision and
recommendation of relief and appropriate crisis intervention for victims of
abuse and exploitation;

(5) Facilitate in the
implementation of welfare programs for the persons with disabilities, victims of
drug addiction, released prisoner and parolees and prevention of juvenile
delinquency and such other activities which would eliminate or minimize the
ill-effect of poverty;

(6) Care, protect and
rehabilitate socially disabled constituents and the physically handicapped for
effective social functioning;

(7) Arrest further
deterioration of the socially disabling or dehumanizing conditions of the
disadvantaged segment at the community level;

(8) Pursue and promote
policies and measures that will ensure the attainment of rational population
size, structure, composition and balanced distribution of resources;

(9) Promote the value of
responsible parenthood, delayed marriage, birth spacing and small family size;

(10) Ensure maximum
participation of GOs/NGOs in the implementation of population related programs,
projects and activities; and

(11) Advocate for policies
and measures addressing social welfare and population concerns.

2.12 Office of the
Provincial Agriculturist

The Office of the
Provincial Agriculturist aims to augment the family income of fisher folks and
farmers as well as to convert the vast idle lands of the province into
productive farm lands for a total agricultural and socio-economic development of
the province. This vision shall be realized through the delivery of basic
technical agricultural services to the poorest of the poor in the rural and
urban areas of the province.

The office
also consolidates and expends the agricultural extension work; bring to farmers
and rural dwellers the knowledge and information on improved agricultural
practices/ technology pertaining to crops, poultry and livestock production.
Likewise, it encourage and promote the growth of private associations,
cooperatives and other organized groups related to production and marketing or
agricultural products; educate farmers through on the spot instructions and
demonstration on improved, useful, healthful and profitable home management
methods and techniques for homemakers; and, assists farmers in the formulation
of cooperatives, organization and other farmers’ associations.

2.13 Provincial Health Office

2.13.1 Functions

The primary function of
the Provincial Health Office is to ensure the efficient, effective economical
delivery of medical, hospital and other support health services which include
primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities as provided under Section 17
of the Local Government Code of 1991. It shall formulates and implements
policies, rules and regulations, plans, programs, and projects, to strengthen
the operation of the office and to promote the health of the people in
consideration of the Sanggunian and upon approval of the Governor.

In addition,
it shall also execute and enforce all laws, ordinances and regulation relating
to public health information campaigns, and to render health intelligence
services are likewise an inherent function of this office. The PHO shall
coordinate with other government agencies and non-governmental organizations
involved in the promotion and delivery of health services. It shall also
exercise general supervision over health officers of component cities and
municipalities.

2.14 Office of the
Provincial Attorney

The Provincial Attorney
acts as the legal counsel of the province. He represents the province in civil
cases wherein the province or any office in his official capacity is a party.
He also conducts investigation or hearing of administrative case assigned by the
Governor and acts as legal adviser of the provincial and municipal government
under its jurisdiction.

2.15 Office of the
Provincial Assessor

Headed by the Provincial
Assessor, this office has the following functions: Issue tax declaration of
real properties, keep record of all transactions affecting transfer of land
ownership, leases, mortgages and real property rentals; inspect and reassess
properties under protest or appeal and prepare schedule of values for taxation
purposes; updates property tax maps and reappraisal of different municipalities;
compiles deed of sale transaction and establish systematic method of property
indexing and record keeping.

2.16 Office of the Provincial Warden

The Provincial Warden
keeps, operates and maintain the provincial jail where convicted provincial
prisoners can serve their sentence and detention prisoners could be held
provisionally pending the final disposition of their cases. The office is also
in-charge of developing plans to rehabilitate the prisoner under custody.

(3) Enhance awareness
among Samareños of our local, national and international culture;

(4) Serves as
repositories, not only of our natural culture but also the culture of other
people in and outside our country;

(5) Collect reading
materials on the current government thrust and make them available for research
to the public;

(6) Collect clippings of
reading materials on the utilization and preservation of natural resources for
the use of public readers;

(7) Collect reading
materials on the lives of national heroes and other Filipino worthy of
emulation, particularly those who made significant contributions to the
country’s development; and,

(8) The Provincial Library
serves as an adult school, a perpetual and lifelong continuation class, and the
greatest educational institution. It serves as public recreation ground,
organized and administered for reading consultation and study.

A.3 Public Manpower Complement

The table below shows the number of employees of the Local Government Unit of
Samar per agency/office with permanent and temporary positions. The
Provincial Health Office has the most number of personnel (401) followed by the
Provincial Engineering Office (243) and the least are those being staffed of
less than ten employees.